Sell out matches and missing Origin stars shaped this round’s results.
Full House
The Full House sign was out in Auckland and Newcastle and the teams did not disappoint.
The Warriors turned around a 66-6 shellacking the previous week to a strong 32-16 win over the Broncos in front of yet another sellout crowd in Auckland. In fact, every game this season has been sold out.
The Warriors were in total control throughout the match leading 16-6 at half time before running away 32-16 victors. The Broncos rested their Origin stars and paid the price slumping to their 4th consecutive loss and out of the top eight.
Both teams are struggling for consistency and will find it difficult to be more than cannon fodder if they make the finals.
In Newcastle, 27,000+ fans were privy to a fantastic match-up between the Knights and Eels. This was the highlight match of the round. I have one word to describe it, ‘fun’.
Mitch Moses continued his hot Origin form scoring twice with another strong showing. But it would be three Eels errors that led to tries including two length of the field ‘drop ball swoops’ by Bradman Best that prove the difference. The atmosphere and noise through the TV was sensational. The Novocastrians sure had… ‘fun’.
Last Year, This Year
The three teams that have battled to avoid the wooden spoon the last three years are on different trajectories. Where the Bulldogs and Dragons are now entrenched in the top eight, the Wests Tigers bubble has well and truly burst.
The Bulldogs equalised against the Sharks in the dying minutes to take the game to golden point. Sharks Nicho Hynes missed an absolute sitter gifting the Bulldogs field position. Matt Burton was not as kind as he booted the winner off the upright for the Bulldogs.
For the Sharks it is their 4th loss in the past five matches. Their sole win was against the Broncos who are also having a losing slide down the ladder. The Sharks hold onto a top four position courtesy to their byes.
The Dragons came back from a 2-6 half time deficit to score five second half tries in a strong performance against the Dolphins. The win moves the team into the top eight with only for/against being the difference with the 5th placed Bulldogs.
The Wests Tigers were looking to a 3rd consecutive victory and were up against the Roosters. Seriously, this was never going to happen. The Roosters led 40-nil until the final seconds when the Tigers scored their sole points. The bubble has popped, and the Wests Tigers resume their normal position at the bottom of the ladder.
In Other Games
- Heavyweights, the Storm continued their winning ways at home.
- Heavyweights, the Panthers, who rested most of the Origin stars, were no match against the Cowboys who also rested their players.
Round 17 Results
Main Competition
No positional change in the top 3 BUT things are bit more compressed at the top. GeorgeTheDragon and The Creator only scored 1 and 2 points respectively and have opened the gate to the chasers for the big $$. UpthePamfers remains in 3rd place but is now a mere 2 points behind the Creator. Murch holds down 4th place only 1 point further back.
Big Mover – Not Last who managed the round high of 7. He moves up 7 and into 10th.
The Standout
The Panthers loss caused the most damage to the stats this week (particularly the 15 who tipped them as their standout), but largely not a terrible round for punters.
- Standouts correct – 36
- Standouts wrong – 18
- The average score – 4
- Our round high – 7
- Our round low was – Minus 1
Footy Tipper Weekly Jackpot
No winners last weekend so we are now playing for $80 for round 18.
And don’t forget 2nd Chance Comp also begins round 18.
Good luck with your tips this week.
Rob and Paul
